GROUP 13: BORON GROUP

Boron Group Overview

Also known as: Triels, Icosagens

Elements: Boron (B), Aluminium (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In), Thallium (Tl), Nihonium (Nh)

Common Properties: Three valence electrons (ns²np¹), transition from nonmetal to metals down the group

B

Boron

Metalloid
Atomic Number 5
Atomic Mass 10.81 u
Electron Config [He] 2s² 2p¹
Common Ions B³⁺
Melting Point 2076°C
Density 2.34 g/cm³
Boron is essential for plant cell walls and is used in borosilicate glass that doesn't crack with temperature changes!

Properties: Hard metalloid, poor conductor, high melting point

Applications: Glass production, detergents, semiconductors, neutron absorbers

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Al

Aluminium

Lightweight
Atomic Number 13
Atomic Mass 26.98 u
Electron Config [Ne] 3s² 3p¹
Common Ions Al³⁺
Melting Point 660.3°C
Density 2.70 g/cm³
Aluminium is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust, but it's never found free in nature - it's always combined with other elements!

Properties: Silvery-white, lightweight, ductile, good conductor

Applications: Aircraft, packaging, construction, electrical transmission

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Ga

Gallium

Low MP
Atomic Number 31
Atomic Mass 69.72 u
Electron Config [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p¹
Common Ions Ga³⁺
Melting Point 29.8°C
Density 5.91 g/cm³
Gallium melts in your hand! It has such a low melting point that body temperature is enough to turn it from solid to liquid.

Properties: Silvery, soft metal, low melting point

Applications: Semiconductors, LEDs, solar panels, thermometers

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In

Indium

Conductive
Atomic Number 49
Atomic Mass 114.82 u
Electron Config [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p¹
Common Ions In³⁺
Melting Point 156.6°C
Density 7.31 g/cm³
Indium makes a high-pitched "scream" when bent - this is called the "indium cry"!

Properties: Silvery-white, soft, malleable, ductile

Applications: Touch screens, solar cells, transparent conductive coatings

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Tl

Thallium

Toxic
Atomic Number 81
Atomic Mass 204.38 u
Electron Config [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s² 6p¹
Common Ions Tl⁺, Tl³⁺
Melting Point 304°C
Density 11.85 g/cm³
Thallium is so toxic that it was once used as rat poison, but is now banned in many countries!

Properties: Soft, malleable, silvery-white, highly toxic

Applications: Electronics, infrared optics, low-melting glass

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Nh

Nihonium

Synthetic
Atomic Number 113
Atomic Mass 286 u
Electron Config [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s² 7p¹
Common Ions Nh⁺
Half-life ~20 seconds
Stability Synthetic
Nihonium was the first element discovered in Asia and is named after "Nihon" which means Japan in Japanese!

Properties: Synthetic, radioactive, extremely unstable

Applications: Scientific research only

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